Misplaced Princess

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing from the Naruto universe but I do have an imagination of my own.

Thinking (or flashbacks)

Emphasis

Biju, etc. speaking

Biju, etc. thinking

WARNING: In the latter part of this chapter, there is implied past sexual harassment or abuse. Lack of consent to touch is mentioned, too.

Naruto was angry: with herself, the situation she found herself in now, and just EVERYTHING! Oh, she knew as soon as she woke up that she'd majorly fucked up! The understanding only continued to grow and fall more heavily upon her as the days passed.

First, there was Kurama who had been screaming and barking to her that she was an idiot, and knew that she was in what he called a "ROOT cellar," an organization also called "The Foundation," based on the lack of emotions in nearly everyone surrounding her. Naruto could tell by herself that two of these masked guys did have emotions, and they were whack jobs. For once, Kurama filled her in on what he knew of ROOT from dealing with its jerkwad leader for what sounded like decades. These nutjobs were traitors to her father, and thus the Leaf. And this Danzo guy: don't even get her started on him.

Once a lowlife, always a lowlife. This one needs to be put down… Kurama said she wasn't ready for that fight yet, not with all these weirdos around supporting him.

Secondly, she was in an underground cave: the very representation of an evil lair! Could this dolt be any more of an evil cartoon caricature?

Third: eww. Once meeting dear Danzo, Naruto was creeped out by his strange masked face, super creepy arm, and fake limping. The tea he so politely gave her, which had some kind of drug in it, didn't ingratiate him to her either, either. And Kami, that arm had shit in it that she didn't even want to think about!  It felt both familiar and completely creepy.

What kind of lives must she have led before?!

Fourth, the operatives slapping her around when she wouldn't stop pulling her hair out from the moment she woke up was not exactly a smooth move on their part. She was going to leave a trail whether their punk asses would allow her to or not. Kurama helped her shed her locks even when they knocked her out to move her from one place to another! They really should have tried some kind of fake-kindness. It might have made her talk a little. She did need information, after all.

They should've held off on the whole "torture" thing, Naru thought. It only made her act like a fool with no skills - even more than she really was. At this point, they didn't think she could even speak properly.

All of that led to her fifth realization: she had been such a child. Where she was now was all her fault. If only she'd listened to Kakashi… If only she'd realized that her parents probably DID plan out that whole not-acknowledging-her-as-their-child shit but only because they wanted to protect her. Probably. It was also probably the reason that JiJi hid her real last name and parentage from her for all those years. The old Sandaime may have kept her in the dark, hurting her more than he'd ever realized, but she understood now. That doesn't mean I won't prank him repeatedly for what he did and failed to do, though.

Danzo walked in, studying her silently. She gasped and turned away as she felt something new from him: something akin to desire? Naruto was so grateful when he left the room without saying a word, but felt dread fill her veins when he walked back the next day with a man that smelled like something slimy, the hospital but worse, earth, and finally death. His golden eyes studied her as she tried to remain calm. His weird laugh, which was totally at her expense, made her skin crawl.

Kurama was silent but his anger was burning her entire gut even more than her eyes every time she opened them. She refused to cry from the pain, though, reminding herself that Kurama was doing it for her. 

It's all my fault.

Day One -

Worthless.

To think that there could be a child with such astronomical chakra reserves that couldn't use jutsu was appalling to Danzo. He at first thought he'd found a hidden gem in the young teen, even though she was well past the age of initiation into his ROOT program. She had a somewhat high resistance to pain, a silent but unsettling demeanor, and chakra reserves so large that she broke two of his chakra scales, including one that he'd "appropriated" from his old friend, Hiruzen. That particular scale, he knew that even Hiruzen had used to measure his own vast chakra stores.

Day Two -

One of his ninjutsu masters taught the girl the hand signs to perform a clone, and the result was… beyond discouraging. A revoltingly unstable form, ghostly pale, had appeared for only a few seconds, and then the potential tool for Konoha let loose a gasp of pain. It was the third technique she'd been taught during her time at the base, and all were unsuccessful and left her in agony. The smirk on her face as she lay on the floor panting after each attempt was also disturbing. Something was very wrong with this girl, but he knew that oftentimes disturbed minds made the best soldiers, once they were molded effectively.

Perhaps the problem lies within that massive chakra reserve of hers. He would wait to see if the female could learn a chakra-intensive technique like the Kage-bunshin until she was completely indoctrinated into his program. That technique, in particular, was a Hidden-Leaf kinjutsu, the power of which he couldn't risk being appropriated outside his home, after all.

He wouldn't allow her to escape, however. Even without talent, every pawn could be a tool for the village, and this pawn was particularly attractive, in a very unique way.

Day Three -

Creating an effective tool is like creating a work of art. This one, however, would require even more work than usual. He couldn't be sure it would be worth it.

It had been reported that she had a habit of pulling out her hair and had to be knocked out so that she couldn't be tracked further by the habit when he had her moved from one base to another. Even though her hair fixation was monitored and punished, the bald spot behind the girl's ear seemed to expand.

Days Four to Five -

Danzo was becoming more concerned about having taken the girl daily, which was an annoyance. Once he'd taken a good look at her when she regained consciousness on that first day, he had briefly wondered if she was distantly related to Uzumaki Kushina, but her almost red eyes made that unlikely. Uzumaki Kushina's eyes were more of a grayish purple.

The girl's slitted pupils and elongated canines reminded him of an Inuzuka, but the Inuzuka-born members of the Foundation said that they had never seen her before. He had only seen that shade of blonde hair in one other person in his village and had long ago confirmed that the orphan, Namikaze Minato, did not have surviving relatives when he arrived in the village and was entered into the Academy. He had reconfirmed that after the man had been named as a Hokage candidate.

Of course, that was aside from the man's missing infant whom he'd verified was still being searched for. His operatives were out searching for her, too. He also confirmed through his voluminous readings that the markings on her cheeks had never been seen before.

So not a clan child. Considering most of her coloring, perhaps she was sent here from Kumo, but for what purpose?

Days Six - Seven

Things were tense in the village, as the Yondaime had turned the search for his missing daughter from outside the Leaf and Hi No Kuni, inward. The Hokage's ANBU along with his brat student, Hatake: the son of that traitor, seemed to always be lurking whenever his most trusted operatives moved from base to base. It was difficult to even pass to the base that the blonde-haired annoyance had been taken.

If I didn't know better…

No, he had gathered intelligence and his spies within the village confirmed that he was not under suspicion. He wouldn't put it past Namikaze to know about ROOT, but Hiruzen had assured him that he told his successor that the program was no more. Hiruzen truly believed he'd disbanded the organization! Danzo's intelligence indicated that the foolish Yondaime had even recently given Orochimaru his blessings to do more research, and judging from how quiet the Snake had been in recent days, he wouldn't doubt that Namikaze increased the man's budget.

If he only knew who his partner really was, he internally chuckled.

Days Eight - Nine

Orochimaru: he could certainly help him with this thorn in his side - no, this young woman. If Orochimaru couldn't force the girl's immense chakra stores to be immediately useful to the village, then he could certainly aid in matching her genetic makeup with appropriate donors to produce excellent future tools for the Leaf.

Or, give her a year or so, and he could take her for himself. 

Or I could do both.

Minato turned over the reports of his daughter's possible whereabouts and glared at his office door. His guard had been told that he was not to be disturbed, so whatever this was about better be important. "Enter." Seeing the face of the man in front of him, he relaxed into his chair and offered him a smile - or pretended to. "Orochimaru-sama, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Minato-sama," he bowed while smiling ominously. "I am here to make an offer."

The Hokage shuffled his paperwork, putting some of it into the top drawer of his desk. "And what could you offer me this fine day, Lord Orochimaru?" he asked as pleasantly as he could.

"I understand you are searching for your daughter," the Snake Sannin replied. He'd give it up to Minato for one thing: the man's unnerving expression of an unstable calm must be another reason why Iwa feared him.

Minato gave up the pleasantries.  "What do you want, Orochimaru?"

"Dispensing with the honorifics already, Minato?"

"That's Yondaime-sama to you."

"Yessss, well… I am thinking of changing alliances." He relished the way "his Hokage" now glared at him. "For a price," he said as he continued to extend his snake-like sounds, knowing that it unnerved even the most formidable shinobi. "I can provide you with information that might aid in your search. As a loyal shinobi, the information is yours regardless, of course, Hokage-sama."

During the silence following his little oration, only one thing was on Orochimarus' mind: Bargain with me you fool! He had enough samples from the little Uzumaki now and didn't find Danzo's latest threats and schemes appealing. Also unappealing was tangling with the man in front of him.

Little girls were not his taste, and that little one reminded him of Tsunade-hime. No matter how many called him a monster - usually just before he killed them - Tsunade and that oaf, Jiraiya, were the only connections he had to this world.

Minato entered the game, knowing full well that Orochimaru's only true allegiance was to himself.

Kakashi was not going to lose another person. He would not fail his sensei again.

Jumping down from a tree well outside of one of Danzo-sama's bases, he accepted a bracelet from Pakkun. "Fuuinjutsu?" He began to study the three colored gems in what looked like a woven charm bracelet as he placed it on his wrist. It snapped together with a surprising and small click of chakra.

"Hai," Pakkun replied as he looked over his summoner to make sure he was alright. "Okay, boss: Minato said he doesn't want you going in there without backup, and that he's pulling together forces to storm all the bases at once in waves. The green stone will light up and pulse once forces are ready. Two pulses and a continuous glow means they're within range and it's a go. He's trusting you to lead the frontal assault in order to find her, but before you engage with ROOT and whoever else Danzo's got in there, he wants you to pulse your chakra into the yellow stone or throw his kunai. The bracelet's a backup in case you're disarmed. He's the only one who can take it off of you."

"Right."

"Not so fast, Boss. You're tired."

Kakashi sighed. Pakkun was such a worry-wart. "I'm fine. She's in there, Pakkun," he said with resignation as he ran his thumb along the incredibly bright blonde hair he'd so easily tracked and gathered. He'd retied each strand together with a string last night as he'd sat in the tree, awaiting orders.

Waiting as ordered was about to drive him crazy.

"You need to calm down, Kakashi. I can feel your chakra building… That's better," Pakkun said when his summoner hid his chakra again. He could barely feel it at all now. He followed Kakashi back up the tree and waited as the teen used his field binoculars to make sure he was still alone and undetected in the area. Pakkun was sure he was also hoping to catch sight of Minato-sama's daughter. He wanted to meet this girl that had Kakashi so uncharacteristically riled up. The things Boss had said about the girl - and the way he'd said them - were rather interesting coming from him, to say the least. "I've got soldier pills and rations in my pouch. Take a pill and eat, Boss."

Kakashi pulled the items out then began scratching his head ninken behind the ears. "Thanks, Pakkun. What is the red stone for?" He popped a soldier pill into his mouth and put the rest into his utility belt.

"Emergency. From what Hokage-sama said, it sounds like the hounds of hell will reign down here if you hit that one…"

"We should be doing that now," Kakashi interrupted, gritting his teeth behind his mask.

"We have to assume that the bases have linked communication: you know that Boss," Pakkun scolded. "I'm here for backup and to keep an eye on you. You know there are toads in the general area," he stated more than asked. Kakashi nodded, sick to death of this waiting game.

Kurama would not allow this man or any other to try what that disgusting excuse for a human once nearly got away with all those years ago in the Forest of Death, in Naruto's first life. Kurama despised the male that had scared his kit for years, and when he finally wised up and partnered with her, he had been disgusted with his memory of calling her weak back then; for saying that she had somehow allowed herself to get into that revolting situation she barely made it out of safely.

Close call or not, it would not happen again.

"What if it doesn't work? What if he," Naruto glanced back at the larger fox across from Kurama, "you know! What if he escapes when we do it, too?"

"Stop. We have little time, and fear will only distract you," Kurama said harshly. The other fox was staring at him intently. "We will not have much time one done, Naruto. I have been instructing you on how this works since you awoke in this rathole. I would suggest you face East. I will guide the trajectory..."

"I trust you, 'ttebayo! It's just - if, well," Naruto stopped what she was saying and turned around to face the larger Kyuubi. She dropped to the ground, placing her forehead against the wet concrete floor of her mindscape. "Kyuubi-sama! I just want to say that I'm so sorry that you're stuck inside me! I - well, I beg of you to not escape when we do this, please? I just want to protect my village and family and all, but one of these days we will get you out of here, 'ttebayo! I'll figure out a way! It's the promise of a lifetime!"

Kurama hated that damn promise: no good ever came out of it! He should have known that the girl would both say something stupid like that and surprise him as well. She always did. Had she surprised or impressed his hate-obsessed "other self?" Kurama had no idea.

He should be impressed. Here the kit's thinking of him and her village, when the danger to her is right behind that door.

The reports said that the young woman still had no scars or bruising. She supposedly had no freckles or moles or imperfections of any kind - not even body hair. Danzo wondered if the reports were accurate. He grabbed the tie at her shoulder to let the gown she was wearing fall away and investigated.

That fucker just put his hands on me, Naruto seethed.

Danzo watched in astonishment as the female's eyes turned blue as she trembled before him, then reappraised her when her hands fisted. She was finally emitting a great deal of chakra and he wondered what would happen if he pushed her just a little farther. Seeing the subject's eyes slit as the lines on her face darkened, he unintentionally took a step back. Her irises weren't the only things red anymore: both of her eyes reminded him of blood. They looked demonic.

"You don't FuCKiNG TOUCH ME," Naruto roared. She jumped up in her mindscape and ripped off Kurama's seal, desperately bumping fists with him. Moving instantly to the other side of him, thus trapping Danzo in the room, she felt her chakra - no, their chakra soar together. Suddenly she was standing in the golden cloak of the Kyuubi, himself.

Danzo barely realized that the ceiling and walls in the hallway had come down. His shinobi instincts enabled him to perform a wind jutsu overhead to secure his safety. He was in awe but finally moved quickly when the girl seemed to direct the fox's giant paw to grab him. Dear God: she's the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune and she has control over it! Not considering that any one of the Bijuu's nails or teeth were bigger than him, he began laughing as he stood in front of the beast. "Magnificent! Simply magnificent!"

Large blue and red "bubbles" hung in the air as the girl's arms widened. Danzo watched in fascination. This girl's worth was beyond all the gold in the Elemental Continent! The Kyuubi's mouth was wide open and the colored spheres seemed to be slowly congealing into something purple or black in its mouth. Danzo realized he had seen something like this before when he was young. "No," he said, in barely a breath. 

Deciding to flee rather than fight, he used all his strength to substitute and sunshin outside, and run as an enormous explosion took place behind him. Another smaller explosion followed it.

Kakashi jumped out of the tree he was in when he felt an earthquake.

The chakra rush and its immediate aftermath made him momentarily forget about the bracelet he was wearing as he watched Danzo's cave fall apart as it sunk into the ground in pieces. Running as fast as he could, using his signature jutsu to cut through debris that was literally flying through the air, he slowed down at seeing what nearly looked like an enormous tail on an unbelievable golden... something! The warm chakra was completely unlike that night weeks ago when the Kyuubi no Kitsune attacked. He was terrified for Naru and began running as fast as he could again, straight into the golden chakra. Suddenly it vanished, and it was as if he was gently placed on the ground. "Naruto?"

Shaking like a leaf in the storm, Naruto was crouched down in the middle of the devastation, holding some type of cloth up to her shoulders. "K- 'kashi?" she whimpered. He nodded his head and she ran into his arms.

He sunshinned them away from the scene in order to protect her, not realizing that the Yondaime and a fair number of ANBU had just arrived.

Naruto was crying silently into the blue masked shirt he wore underneath his flack jacket, holding him tight. "It's okay, Naru-chan." He was not good at comforting people, but he'd try his best.

"Are we, ano," Naruto closed her eyes in pain and tried to get hold of herself.

"We're okay, Naruto. It's over." Stiffly rubbing her back with his hands in what he had hoped to be soothing circles, he froze at realizing that her back was entirely uncovered. As a shinobi, he'd effectively handled many situations involving various types of abuse and victims, but this felt different to him. "Naru?" His voice had squeaked as he looked down at her. Finally, she raised her head to meet his gaze and she choked out a sob. The whites of her eyes were completely bloodshot and she seemed to be in a lot of pain. Then she pulled him down and kissed him on his masked lips.

"Thank you," she said in just over an embarrassed whisper. She'd meant to kiss him on the cheek.

"Kakashi! Naruto!" Minato called out as he came running over the debris.

Naruto found herself holding a log rather than the boy she'd been with. She dropped it in confusion and disbelief at what she'd just done as she pulled the gown around herself as best she could.

"Tou-san?" She'd never been so glad to be covered with her father's cloak. He picked her up from her shaking knees and held her against his chest, telling her it was alright as she apologized again and again. Finally, he placed his palm on her forehead forcing her to promptly fall asleep as he Hiraishined them to the hospital.

Next time: House Arrest